Wedding costs

Big Nelly

Hi Everyone

Does anyone have a document with average costs for everything for a wedding? e.g. band, church music, church itself, photographer etc

Just starting to plan everything now including hotel etc. We are based in Dublin(everyone is robbing us) and going to have reception in Kildare/Meath area!!

Johnny Drama.

Got Married 2 Months ago, 150 at reception

Band €2500
Catering €9000
Venue €5000
Wedding Cars €1000
Church & Priest €300 Donation not cost
Photographer €500
Flowers & Wedding Planner €2200
Wedding Dress €2000
Suits €600
Other cost around €2000

If i had the choice i would have done it in spain & prob would have cost €10,000 or less.

Big Nelly

Johnny Drama. wrote: »

Got Married 2 Months ago, 150 at reception


If i had the choice i would have done it in spain & prob would have cost €10,000 or less.

Thanks Johnny, gives me an idea, was looking at pricing last night and I think we where saying the same and head somewhere foreign. would have 180 at reception so it aint cheap!!!

wh23

there are different ways to reduce the costs of your wedding.there is a bridal outlet store in baldoyle which is well worth checking out.also there are alot of shops on ebay selling bridesmaid dresses made to fit from 50euro.marks & spencers do 3 tier cakes for about 100euro.they also do nice invitations.instead of paying for a band you could get dj for a fraction of the cost.you can do the flowers yourself if you get them cheap from the markets in town.goin to spain is great but everyone you's want there on the day might not be able to go.

Bridey6189

Big Nelly wrote: »

Hi Everyone

Does anyone have a document with average costs for everything for a wedding? e.g. band, church music, church itself, photographer etc

Just starting to plan everything now including hotel etc. We are based in Dublin(everyone is robbing us) and going to have reception in Kildare/Meath area!!

Hi there i'm just back from honeymoon and still raving about my wedding, there's not really a set guideline for wedding expenses. You can spend as little or as much as you want - the sky is the limit when it comes to weddings. You should set a budget and work from that.

The girl that helped my wedding was Laura from i do weddings in Kildare. It is a wedding shop where they sell everything (wedding dresses candles, invitations, car hire etc... ) But she has inclusive package deals going with hotels in the area too. I was too late to get it for my wedding but if your looking for a venue and need everyhing else too she's def worth a call. All her stuff is very reasonable and she is so helpful. Her website is idoweddings.ie

by the way dont go near instyle wedding cars in kildare - omg what a nightmare, but thats another story...

ntlbell

Johnny Drama. wrote: »

Got Married 2 Months ago, 150 at reception

Band €2500.

wtf? who was it? pink floyd? elvis?

that sounds extraordinary!

ledzepmad

My wedding cost in total 9k including meal for 100 guests and the wine and prosecco, beer etc.

had it in Italy and it was amazing.

I would reccommend it to anyone, week away with family and friends in the beauty of tuscany - registry office herebefore hand and a garden blessing ceremony semi humanist style.

ledzepmad

sorry forgot to say that was for everything,

bought 6 bridesmaid dresses online for 20e each,
dress was made for 630
and suit cost 300


If you want any details on where we had it, pm me x

Bridey6189

ledzepmad wrote: »

My wedding cost in total 9k including meal for 100 guests and the wine and prosecco, beer etc.

had it in Italy and it was amazing.

I would reccommend it to anyone, week away with family and friends in the beauty of tuscany - registry office herebefore hand and a garden blessing ceremony semi humanist style.

Hi my friend was thinking bout getting married in Italy next year, was it very hard to organise or did you get a local planner? Do you know anything bout the Lake District?

Bridey6189

yup... think they saw you coming...2500 way too much. Even the crem de la creme are only bout 2k and even at that they'll knock off €200 if you haggle

shane b

Hi
there was a post similiar to this posted in early January entitled "Typical/Average Wedding budget" which I replied to. Not sure how to post a link to it but if you search for my user name it should appear. Got married Sept 08 in Cavan. Hope it helps

ecaf

Just recently married too, I tried to keep costs down as much as possible, but didn't cut people out from reception. We had about 170 on our list (incl. a few children), There were about 130 ish at the wedding, so count on your numbers dropping. I have just copied Johnny's list from below to update with my own prices:

Band €1600 (best money ever spent, everyone was going on about him, and he has too booking from my wedding)
DJ €150
Church singer & organist €400
Catering €5200 (@ €40 pp)
Afters €8 pp - for 75% of your total guests is succifient
Church & Priest €250
Photographer €1700
Flowers €380
Wedding Dress €1000
Dress alterations €150
Suits approx - €120 each to hire incl. shoes - MIL did this for us.
BMaid dress €150
Flowergirl dresses €60 each for whole outfit incl shoes. (Dunnes - changed ribbons on them to match BM colours)
Cake - Made for us as gift, but would have went to M&S as someone else has suggested
Wine - €8 corkage (per bottle), €6.50 p/b in a warehouse up north, also a gift given to us.
Hair & Makeup (callouts for 3 of us) €280
Invitations & Stamps €250 - simple but personalised ones bought on Ebay
Mass scrolls €12 - just bought 150 card pages and used a scroll template, printed on both sides.
Notification to state €150

There are a few other things you could add to the list, pre-marriage course approx €150, Unity candles if your having them, got mine personalised from Ebay - €30, Bride's jewellry, gifts for BM & Best man & flower girls. Flowers / gifts for mothers, tan & beauty treatments, etc.
Honeymoon - this depends on your budget!

cavangirl21

I dont know how much everything cost but my friend got as joint music and photography deal which I know she was thrilled about. I think the music was simple church music or simplychurch music, something like that. I'm hoping to have to look into it further soon!!!:D

TiwstaSista

whew! what a price you'd pay to get married now a days. just consider whom you'd be inviting then so you could trim down your expenses and try saving for the honeymoon trip if there ever is. best of luck!:D

Big Nelly

What type of present have you given groomsmen/bridemaids? we are looking at giving them the hotel free, sounds nice but costing over a grand!:rolleyes:

rizzoli

Hi

It is very easy to ripped off getting married but haggle and you will get more for your money I got married last year we kept everything on a small scale had about 80people and managed to do it for under €6k so it is possible to have a lovely day without it costing the earth a few things we did were got married mid week this reduces venue prices and alot of entertainment prices as well shopped around for everything and bought bridesmaid dresses on line for a fraction of what they cost here
hope this helps

This

€7oofor 2 return flights to Vegas

€ 250 hotel for 4 nights

€ 120 chapal hire and dinner for 2 after

€ 100 preist&documentation

returning home to tell your parents you got married in vegas... PRICLESS!!!

Big Nelly

This wrote: »

€7oofor 2 return flights to Vegas

€ 250 hotel for 4 nights

€ 120 chapal hire and dinner for 2 after

€ 100 preist&documentation

returning home to tell your parents you got married in vegas... PRICLESS!!!

You having dinner in McDonalds?

This

Big Nelly wrote: »

You having dinner in McDonalds?

Na, we splashed out a bit

seamus

In relation to bands/music, the quality of a band can make or break your reception. For me, a terrible band ruins a reception. That may be just me, but I can't understand how people are happy with two people who sound like they've come off busking on Grafton street, followed by a DJ who plays "rock the boat".

As the number of performers in the band goes up, you would naturally expect the cost to go up. You also have to take into account their equipment which needs to be transported, set up and maintained. So if you have a five-piece band @ €2500, then that's €500 for each member.
When you consider that they're giving you a high-quality musical performance (a relatively niche service), they've to take 6-7 hours of their day to get to you and get set up, and each band member is bringing along €1500 worth of equipment which needs constant maintenance, then €500 is quite generous, but it's nowhere near the "money for old rope" scam that a lot of people think it is.

kippy

seamus wrote: »

In relation to bands/music, the quality of a band can make or break your reception. For me, a terrible band ruins a reception. That may be just me, but I can't understand how people are happy with two people who sound like they've come off busking on Grafton street, followed by a DJ who plays "rock the boat".

As the number of performers in the band goes up, you would naturally expect the cost to go up. You also have to take into account their equipment which needs to be transported, set up and maintained. So if you have a five-piece band @ €2500, then that's €500 for each member.
When you consider that they're giving you a high-quality musical performance (a relatively niche service), they've to take 6-7 hours of their day to get to you and get set up, and each band member is bringing along €1500 worth of equipment which needs constant maintenance, then €500 is quite generous, but it's nowhere near the "money for old rope" scam that a lot of people think it is.

Totally agree.
The band can make or break the reception.
Getting married shortly myself and spent a LOT of time looking for a decent band. Spending just about €1800 on them. They've a 2 hour trip to the venue, a 2 hour trip home, at least an hour of set up/take down and a three hour set. Which is basicilly a full 8 hours "work". Coupled with the equipment costs, travel costs etc and the fact that there are 5 of them, i have no problem paying that much money so long as they deliver which I am confident they will.

In relation to other costs. If your going for a traditional "irish" weddin (bells and whistles) make sure you haggle with the hotel especially, you can save A LOT of money here.

Big Nelly

seamus wrote: »

In relation to bands/music, the quality of a band can make or break your reception. For me, a terrible band ruins a reception. That may be just me, but I can't understand how people are happy with two people who sound like they've come off busking on Grafton street, followed by a DJ who plays "rock the boat".

As the number of performers in the band goes up, you would naturally expect the cost to go up. You also have to take into account their equipment which needs to be transported, set up and maintained. So if you have a five-piece band @ €2500, then that's €500 for each member.
When you consider that they're giving you a high-quality musical performance (a relatively niche service), they've to take 6-7 hours of their day to get to you and get set up, and each band member is bringing along €1500 worth of equipment which needs constant maintenance, then €500 is quite generous, but it's nowhere near the "money for old rope" scam that a lot of people think it is.

Agree, Band I am getting is 2100, was at a friends wedding at Xmas and they where great, really good and interacted with the crowd and everyone had a great night,

Went to a cousin wedding the day after at Xmas, jesus the band was awful, and I mean awful, was a young wedding again with about 80% of 300 people all young and they started to get people into a big circle and go around clockwise or something. We ended up leaving after 20 mins and headed into the small bar outside cause we couldnt listen to them anymore!!! end of wedding at 9

Menas

Hotel (main meal and afters, prosecco reception, wine at meal) - 9,000 (100 guests)
Dress - 1000
DJ - 850
Suit hire - 170 (for the two of us)
Bridesmaids dresses - 300
Flowers - 500
Miscelaneous (hair, makeup, manicure, shirts etc etc etc) - 1000.
Photography - mates rates , ie free.
Invitation - mates rates , ie free in lieu of present.
Registrars fee - 150
Present for Bridesmaid and best man (I am not going to say in case they read this in advance of the wedding!)

Our reception is in Thomas Prior hall, a lovely victorian hall that is part of Bewleys in ballsbridge. Their wedding organiser has been great to us.

We are not doing the church thing, just getting married in private before the wedding party!

antiskeptic

Big Nelly wrote: »

Hi Everyone

Does anyone have a document with average costs for everything for a wedding? e.g. band, church music, church itself, photographer etc

Just starting to plan everything now including hotel etc. We are based in Dublin(everyone is robbing us) and going to have reception in Kildare/Meath area!!

I'd recommend setting up a spreadsheet from the start and putting in estimates of costs - fixing things down as you progress. That way you keep tabs on things and will have more conviction in your voice when it comes to bargaining. What you pay is largely down to the size of your b*lls when it comes to playing the wedding game. And don't lay down a penny with anyone until the very last minute: folk go bust and money in your pocket means you can always move on if a new avenue opens up.

There is a recession on.



Cost's for my recent wedding below.

Ceremony costs
Chapel 500
Organ player 220
Choir 180
Invites 250
Car hire 150
Registrars appointment 150
Rings 350

Wedding Attire
Brides dress 1500
Brides shoes 140
Bride: hair, makeup, miscellaneous 400

Bridesmaid dress etc 180
Flowergirl 1 dress etc 160
Flowergirl 2 dress etc 160
Flowergirl 3 dress etc 160

Groom suit 400 Groom shirt/tie/shoes etc 350

Reception costs
Restaurant 8000
Piano player before/after 375

Miscellaneous
Photography 300 (friend)
Flowers 500
Hotel post wedding 320
Pre-marriage course 150

Tips 500


Total 15245

PANADOL

was feeling sorry for all you people who insist on getting married for whatever reason having to spend all this money on a piece of paper however the elphant in the room is that you will get most of the money back ie average wedding 100 people will gather between 5 and 10 k in wedding presents ie 100/head

kippy

PANADOL wrote: »

was feeling sorry for all you people who insist on getting married for whatever reason having to spend all this money on a piece of paper however the elphant in the room is that you will get most of the money back ie average wedding 100 people will gather between 5 and 10 k in wedding presents ie 100/head

No one "HAS" to do or spend anything, people do it because they chose to do it.

We'd a fantastic day in July, Band were excellent, the whole thing was really really well done and dont regret spending a penny.

Vancouver

ledzepmad wrote: »

sorry forgot to say that was for everything,

bought 6 bridesmaid dresses online for 20e each,
dress was made for 630
and suit cost 300


If you want any details on where we had it, pm me x

Hey there,

Where were you able to get dresses for so cheap? Also could you try them on before you bought them?

Thanks

oharac1

Trigger Happy wrote: »

Hotel (main meal and afters, prosecco reception, wine at meal) - 9,000 (100 guests)
Dress - 1000
DJ - 850
Suit hire - 170 (for the two of us)
Bridesmaids dresses - 300
Flowers - 500
Miscelaneous (hair, makeup, manicure, shirts etc etc etc) - 1000.
Photography - mates rates , ie free.
Invitation - mates rates , ie free in lieu of present.
Registrars fee - 150
Present for Bridesmaid and best man (I am not going to say in case they read this in advance of the wedding!)

Our reception is in Thomas Prior hall, a lovely victorian hall that is part of Bewleys in ballsbridge. Their wedding organiser has been great to us.

We are not doing the church thing, just getting married in private before the wedding party!

Hi

I went to look at Thomas Prior Hall as a wedding venue at the weekend. I love the venue but since then some friends had dinner in the hotel and said that the food was terrible. I'm hoping that was just one bad experience as we really want to book our wedding there. What did you think of the venue?

snuggles09

http://www.waterfordweddings.com/planner/waterford_weddings_planer_blank.xls

I'm getting married next August and marking things off on this as I go..there's also an average one on the site as well with rough prices of how much you should allow and a loan calculator..might be a bit of help

snuggles09

We're having civil ceremony in Tower Hotel

Registration with Registrar 150 euro
Decoration of venue 300 euro
Meal for 50 adults and 9 kids 1800
Reception food for 100+ afterwards 350 euro
Music 600 euro

Total so far is 3200 euro

Hair and Make up: My best friend so free
Cake: His cousin so free
Flowers: His other cousin so free

Hoping to do it all for around the 6k mark